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U.S. stocks opened higher Thursday, JPMorgan considered the results of positive compensating the warning on Wednesday by Moody's sovereign rating of the United States.

In early trade, the Dow Jones gained 0.1% to 12,512 points, while the Standard & Poor's 500, the benchmark for fund managers, is 0.3% to 1321 points and the composite Nasdaq ahead by 0.2% to 2803 points.

Investors seem determined to maintain the momentum of the previous day despite macroeconomic still very tense. Last night, the rating agency Moody's threatened to lose them in the U.S. triple-A in the coming weeks if Congress failed to reach an agreement to raise the ceiling on the national debt.Before that, the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated Wednesday that "a failure of the United States on its debts, or its commitments to its own citizens, would create a major crisis."

In Europe, the situation is calmer. Fitch downgraded the sovereign rating three notches to Greece, CCC, B + cons before, dangerously close to the category of issuer insolvency. The euro area is still unable to agree on the question of a possible failure Greek. A summit on the date still uncertain, should take place next week.

Relief on the Italian front

However, investors are reassured by Italy. Despite borrowing costs record, the country has successfully issued a total of 4.97 billion euros of bonds today, to a maximum target of 5 billion."The auctions were well received in Italy in the circumstances, given the volumes required by the market and correct oversubscription," said Orlando Green, strategist at Credit Agricole CIB in London. The Italian Senate has also given the green light Thursday to a first austerity plan reinforced in an attempt to stem contagion from the crisis of debt in the euro area.

Side indicators, good news came on the employment front. The jobless claims fell in the first week of July to their lowest level since mid-April, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department. On a seasonally adjusted, the Ministry estimated that 405,000 new jobless claims in the week of July 3 to 9, against 427,000 (revised) the previous week.Analysts had forecast a smaller drop to 410,000.

In addition, retail sales unexpectedly rebounded in June, where they rose 0.1% over May, according to figures released Thursday in Washington by the Department of Commerce. Analysts estimated that retail sales had declined for the second consecutive month by 0.2%, according to their median forecast. Year on year, the index of the Department increased by 8.1% in June

The producer prices fell 0.4% in June in the U.S. after rising 0.2% in May, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department.

Note on the currency market, the rise of the euro against the greenback. It is trading 1.4205 dollars against 1.4153 last night.Oil prices are without direction, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August lost a cent to 98.04 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for delivery the same takes 14 cents to 118.92 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

Side values, investors are pleased with the results of JP Morgan. The title earns 3.2% to 40.91 dollars. The bank, which opened the ball of the second quarter bank earnings, reported earnings better than expected. JP Morgan reported net income of $ 5.4 billion (3.80 billion euros) or $ 1.27 per share, against $ 4.8 billion, or $ 1.09 per share a year earlier. Economists on average had forecast earnings per share of $ 1.21. Net banking income rose by 7% to $ 27.4 billion.

ConocoPhillips reported on Thursday its intention to split into two groups by separating its refining and marketing. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2015. Investors welcomed the announcement, the title clinching 6.28% to 79.09 dollars.

Marriott International reported Wednesday a rise in earnings while delivering bleak forecasts for the remainder of the year. Its earnings per share were 37 cents against 31 cents a year earlier. Analysts were expecting 37 cents. For the full year 2011, Marriott said, anticipating an EPS of between 1.35 and $ 1.43 instead of 1.35 to 1.45 above. The title is heavily penalized, losing 6.27% to 34.81 dollars.

Yum Brands, owner of the fast food chain KFC, released Wednesday a net earnings per share to 65 cents from April to June, while analysts expected 60 cents. The group now expects annual growth of at least 12% of BPA, instead of the expected 10% increase so far. The title earns 2.42% to 56.93 dollars.

Google reports earnings after the close. Its EPS is expected to show up to 71 cents against 68 cents the same quarter last year. The title is treading water (0.08%) to 538.83 dollars.

Douwe Egberts Dutch coffee distributor and subsidiary of Sara Lee, announced Thursday that it plans to get in stock in the first half of 2012.

The gas is in talks to take over the assets of the U.S. company Duke Energy in Latin America, according to the Brazilian business newspaper Valor Economico.

Areva. The nuclear group should ally with the Spanish Iberdrola Renewables on two of the five areas of the tender for offshore wind launched by the state, according to Les Echos.

Ipsos. The British advertising group Aegis said to be in exclusive talks with the institute of studies and surveys for the sale of its subsidiary Synovate market research cheapest personal loan rates.

Havas. In an interview with Echo, the executive director of the group will develop two commercial microarray in the world, one around his BETC teaches French and the other around Arnold, a Boston-based agency

After the close of trading, EuropaCorp will release its results for the year 2010-2011.

Five days before the end of the selection process for the leadership of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), supports the two candidates, Christine Lagarde, French and Mexican Augustin Carstens, continue to occur. That night, it was Canada and Australia have shown their preference for the Mexican. "Past experience of the IMF Agustin Carstens, coupled with his achievements as Finance Minister of Mexico and his current position as governor of the Mexican Central Bank, the very well prepared to understand and address the challenges facing the global economy, 'the two countries in a brief statement.

Still, while Germany shows loud and clear preference for the French candidate, the support of both countries to Carstens appears more timid.Australia and Canada underline the very strong indeed credibility of both candidates and their "weapons" to ensure the legitimacy of the IMF. This commitment shy, Mexico seems to reap the benefits of an intense lobbying. June 7, after a meeting in Ottawa with Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and the boss of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney, Augustin Carstens had already revealed that the country would welcome a new head of the IMF International from an emerging economy. This is now confirmed. Besides these two new support, the Mexican has the support of a dozen South American countries.

For Nicolas Sarkozy, has already achieved success

This joint statement does not seem to really change the forces.Canada is indeed at the head of a constituency (group of countries) representing only 3.61% of the votes in the institution. The only real surprise, Ottawa will generally be the position of its U.S. neighbor … who, in turn, always reserves his choice.

The latest statements by Timothy Geithner, however, argue for a broad preference for the French bid. Through a spokesman, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury has in fact hired Thursday, "strong leadership skills and experience of the Minister," making it a candidate "exceptionally competent" for the position Executive Director. If the United States confirmed this view, Christine Lagarde, who already has the support of Europe (almost one third of the votes on the Executive Board of the IMF), garnering 16.8% of extra votes.French side, the case is already bent to Nicolas Sarkozy, who is already winning his Economy Minister, before the final decision expected by June 30: "A woman at the IMF, is history! And that's us! "The president reportedly said according to remarks reported by Le Parisien.

Finally, the French enjoy today to the disunity of the emerging countries, the so-called BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Faced with their indecision, Carstens strategy to present himself as the candidate of developing countries, seems to have a hard time fly. Especially since his whole campaign, and during his oral exam Thursday at the IMF, Christine Lagarde has repeatedly hammered his desire to ensure, if elected, more representative of emerging countries in the institution .

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Pressure mounts on the management of Air France-KLM. 144 MPs of all persuasions have signed the petition launched by Bernard Carayon, UMP deputy from the Tarn, to induce Air France Airbus in favor of a mégacommande long-haul aircraft. Monday, Pierre Lellouche, the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, has announced its intention to meet with Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, the CEO of Air France-KLM to seek "clarification" on its intentions. The meeting should take place this afternoon.

For the government, bad foreign trade figures – which widened to over 7 billion euros in April – have sounded like a severe reprimand. Particularly for companies whose shareholder is the State. Air France-KLM, it holds that "15%" of capital.But Pierre Lellouche believes that the company can "pass the buck" in a state that has "greatly helped" the group "when he had problems with Brussels." A similar approach to reprimand respondent last week to PSA Peugeot Citroen, after the revelation of its possible plans to close two factories in France. PSA is not a public company, but it has benefited from state funds during the crisis.

Strategic choice

The political pressure put on Air France is the extent of the challenge: a mégacommande – the first made jointly by Air France and KLM – a hundred long-haul aircraft. The project is described as historic by the leaders of Air France-KLM themselves: it should be in the tens of billions of dollars. The verdict of the direction the company should have to fall shortly after the general meeting in early July.Now, executives of Air France-KLM believe that the announcement will probably be delayed for several weeks, "the time that the discussions become less passionate."

Internally, the political turn taken by the back hurts. Bernard Pedamon, the pilot representative on the board of directors of Air France said he was "surprised and discontented." "These are the strategic choices that can be for an airline. It is a commitment for another twenty years to respond to economic considerations, he says. Currently, we are witnessing the return of our old demons. The days when you could bring in managers office at the head of the company or impose choices of planes is a bygone era. "

Currently, the weight of the two aircraft manufacturers in the fleet of the company tricolor is not identical.On all its long-haul aircraft, Air France totals 63 Boeing against Airbus 35. The company has indeed bought many Boeing 777-300 at a time when Airbus had no exact equivalent. However, all of its medium-haul (or 153 units) are Airbus.

The controversy of recent days is all the more surprising that for several months, officials of the fleet of Air France have expressed their intention to mix Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. "The case studied by our teams for the purchase of these devices are not made on a corner table," says an executive of the company. "We are studying a number of criteria: the choice of engines, the maintenance cost, the impact on our maintenance activity …" considerations rather distant from the campaign themes.

From our special correspondent in Los Angeles.

LE FIGARO. – After the loss of 277 million to a turnover of 3.6 billion last year, will you become profitable again in fiscal year 2011-2012, which began April 1?

John Riccitiello – Yes. Electronic Arts will be the recipient this year. But let me tell you that since 2009, according to U.S. accounting standards known as non-GAAP, the group is profitable. Last year we made a profit of 70 cents per share and cash flow generated by economic activity of the company was 340 million.

What is your progress in selling games dematerialized?

Last year, digital distribution accounted for 23.5% of group turnover, with 27% last quarter. This year, we should generate over a billion dollars on a turnover of around 3.8 billion.So we will be increasing. Last year, the increase of turnover in sales dematerialized game was 46%, growth is incredible.

All your games do they need to have a version for smartphones, tablets, PCs and social networks?

The market is changing. A few years ago when you were a player you used to play on one console or a single computer. Now, most consumers have a console, a smartphone or tablet and a Facebook account. We do not look at how the public revenue but when he plays. Consumers use all their facilities for entertainment via the Internet. We are in a unique position to be number one or two worldwide in games for social networks, PCs, smartphones, game consoles and "micro" transactions.

Electronic Arts Will he beat Zynga, the champion of games for social networks?

I want to be number one on all platforms. But in games for social networks we are number two, behind Zynga. We will propose additional games. We hope to beat them, but I do not know when it will happen.

How do you explain that your market capitalization of 7.6 billion dollars while Zynga is estimated around 10 billion?

In general, investors refer to multiples of profits to value companies. Our market capitalization is about 20 times our earnings expected by Wall Street. The social network LinkedIn is capitalizing approximately 100 times its future profits. Zynga is estimated at an unbelievable level. Investors were still in their sights a profession as "hot." Now, what are the social networks.Financiers believe that Facebook, Zynga, Groupon or LinkedIn will be the next Google. These companies are valued using a different criterion, that of promise. But they will not all win.

Fifa 12 game has just added a social component with Part Football Club and you'll soon launch the Social sims …

We try to provide the best possible experience in all media and all platforms. This will not necessarily be the same game but we want to connect the data for you to be recognized in all media and gaming experience to continue, even if you do not have exactly the same functions no faxing payday loan.

What do you expect a social version of The Sims, which will extend the experience on Facebook?

We sold a total of 140 million since the launch sims the gameI think we will have between 3 and 10 million players per day for Sims Social. This is a new market. We could not achieve our revenue in 2010 only with games sold for less than a dollar a piece! But this activity will help boost our business in the Sims. This is the secret of the business in video games.

What is the secret?

When something works, it does more, otherwise it makes less. Add component contributes to increase revenue from one year to another. The platform for downloading and Origin game sales, which we announced in early June, will help increase our revenues.

You're more interested in Ubisoft, where you controlled between 15 and 20% of capital?

I've never been. We never wanted to buy. We realized a reasonable profit by selling our participation last year.I like Yves Guillemot of Ubisoft games, as Michel Guillemot, who led the company for mobile games Gameloft. I think the best asset for Ubisoft's Guillemot family and for the best platform in Gameloft. I never saw these companies as a direct competitor to Electronic Arts.

What will be the major massively multiplayer game that you run this year?

It will be "Star Wars: The Old Republic" will be available on Origin. I think we will see a blurring of boundaries between different versions of games for mobile, shelves, brackets and to those subscriptions.I do not think we would start a simple massively multiplayer game now because of market developments.

Where are you with your calls Activision $ 400 million for the departure of two founding Infinite Ward's studio, which developed Call of Duty, and now working for Electronic Arts?

Great talents often go to companies that perform the best job. They filed a complaint against us. But you know, we're in the entertainment industry, so there may be much ado about nothing. On this issue, we have not made provisions in our accounts.

Is this a great loss to have seen your Assistant Chief John Schappert, join Zynga?

Yes. But that's life business.Last year, 212 engineers went to competition and we've hired 384.

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Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, candidate to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn to the IMF, is also his campaign on the net, via Twitter. "Follow my campaign for the-post of Managing Director of the IMF," she writes in the introduction to his account @ lagarde_imf.

For now, 243 "followers" can thus keep track of time use of French. A figure that is expected soon to increase, most ministers have a twitter account is followed by several thousand people. Since last Wednesday, his account has been opened just before formalizing his candidacy – the Minister has published 46 twits (short message) alternating French and English payday loans. We learn as she lunched today with Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega and with the Governor of the Central Bank of Brazil, Alexandre Tombini.

Sunday during the broadcast of Jean-Pierre Elkabach on Europe 1 – during which the atmosphere was "studious," says a post – al least not twittered about ten times to keep fans informed.

Christine Lagarde also take this new kind of forum to defend the matter Tapie "arbitration was the least bad solution to put an end to Tapie affair," she wrote this weekend.

The minister listed a dozen groups, but for now, she does not follow any …

The natural disaster that shook Japan on March 11 and caused a serious nuclear accident in history, affecting badly the Japanese utility Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO). The company reported a net loss record 11 billion euros (1.25 trillion yen) on Friday morning, well above the 9 billion expected by the Japanese press. It is the worst deficit recorded by a Japanese non-financial group. The earthquake and the tsunami have paralyzed much of its central activity based in Fukushima, a city northeast of the country now known worldwide. For more than two months in fact, at least four of six reactors on the site are stopped. Before the event, Tepco expected a net profit of 1 billion euros.

Another important announcement this morning by Tepco: Masataka Shimizu's resignation.It must be said that his handling of the crisis has been sharply criticized in Japan and the rest of the world. Particularly for its lack of transparency in the first moments following the disaster. He will be succeeded by Toshio Nishizawa, the current CEO of the group.

State utilities and banks to contribute

The future already looks difficult for TEPCO. The operator had to call for help from the Japanese government. In a request sent on 10 May at the Japanese government, the third largest producer of electricity in the Archipelago evokes an immediate need 8.7 billion euros. Very quickly, the Japanese government has responded, putting Tepco under its control and disclose its financial rescue plan."The purpose of this plan is not to bail Tepco, said Friday the Japanese Minister of Economy, but to ensure that victims are compensated properly," he commented.

TEPCO has indeed compensate the 85,000 victims of the nuclear accident payday advance. A bill that could total between 25 and 43 billion euros, according to local press. Thus the state ensures that dip into its funds and requires the efforts of other private electricity companies in the country. Even banks will tighten their belts: they have provided a loan of 1.4 trillion yen (11.7 billion euros) to Tepco are asked to waive a portion of their claims vis-à-vis the operator .

For its part, TEPCO must, of course, participate in a pinch.The group will include transfer of financial assets and properties in order to concentrate its resources on the production and distribution of electricity. In addition, the eight most senior executives of the company will also waive any compensation and personnel managers to ordinary workers, will also undergo substantial pay cuts.

In exchange, Tepco falls again

This Friday morning in Tokyo, the title has finished Tepco small increase of 0.54% before the results are published in the group. Since, in trade-off meeting at the New York Stock Exchange, the action Tepco listed on Wall Street tumbles 9.6% and is only worth 4.45 dollars. So since March 11, the title collapsed by 83%. Investors, cooled the past two months, do not see Tepco bounce soon.While its nuclear activity has melted, the group had to increase production at its thermal power plants to continue to supply the population. However, this has a cost of hydrocarbons, which could cost another 8.7 billion uros on the current tax year.

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All for it! A great stir launched by Laurent Wauquiez triggers an uproar, followed by a double crop, ministerial and presidential primary. But a few days later, means a whole different story. François Fillon Laurent Wauquiez has criticized the "form", but acknowledged the need to "correct" the RSA. And Roselyne Bachelot, who on Monday denounced the "About counter" in the mouth of his government colleague, merely validating the more moderate course, diagnosis shared by all governmental experts: the RSA does not work .

"This system is not perfect and needs improvement. This is a horribly complex. It must be simpler, "said Minister for Solidarity. The Minister of European Affairs has lanced the boil.The initiative is very cavalier but Sarkozyist in mind: to generate debate on a subject which will now cleaving the heart of the presidential election.

Since the Elysee prepares a balance sheet of five years, the RSA is an embarrassment, even if the plate issued by the Presidency of the Republic for the fourth anniversary of the class number of successful reforms. Should he be praised for showing that the government can boast of a true social balance? You run the risk of exasperating his electorate that is notched on all subjects assistantship. Should we criticize, pointing to its shortcomings?

Crisis forces, the RSA is not increased in intensity. Departments have struggled, together, to put in place. The record is disappointing.And Nicolas Sarkozy, who was given carte blanche to Martin Hirsch, came back the promises of the former High Commissioner of Solidarity.

A "disappointment"

Last Friday, Nicolas Sarkozy himself acknowledged before some guests of the evening that the RSA is a "disappointment" because he "does not fulfill the function" for which it was designed. Several employees Elysian find elsewhere, for several days that the RSA was "a bad system." Even Jean Castex, deputy general secretary in charge of social issues, slid in front of several elected officials as the "RSA does not correct the RMI but amplifies it." He likes to cite the example of supermarkets, which are not hiring more part-time because it makes employees eligible for RSA. "As a result, employers have an incentive to pay only partial activities," said Castex.This means that Wauquiez had some support when he opened a gap on this subject.

Now, everyone understands that the assistantship in general, and the RSA in particular, should enter the debate of the presidential election. Whether it is local aid, of individual housing, the earned income tax or unemployment benefits – by far the most generous in Europe, particularly for executives – these benefits will be evaluated. First, during the debate held on this subject by the UMP June 8 Then during the mission's findings Marc-Philippe Daubresse on RSA.

"We have two solutions. Or we're like 80% of the countries that surround us, that is to say nothing, because generalized social benefits are the only true French specificity. Or do we tip of a support system to a delivery system, that is to say, aid in exchange counterparties.Only the second solution seems feasible, there is little confided to Le Figaro a close adviser to the Head of State. The Elysee, who thinks of course the debate of 2012, reflecting on different tracks. For example, the idea of ​​a "welfare reduced based economic growth," says this adviser.

But another near the head of state calls on him "a fierce fight against abuse", without questioning the entire system, on behalf of national cohesion.

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On Wall Street last week, the Standard & Poor's 500 was royally awarded 1.96%, returning to a new level since June 2008. It closed Friday at 1369.61 points, rising 2.8% in April and 8.4% since the beginning of the year. The reassuring words of the President of the Federal Reserve, but also publications of the first quarter results of companies in the S & P 500 led him to move forward.

Indeed, over 324 companies over 500 have already published their results. And this statement is, at present, encouraging, "announced 74% earnings per share above expectations and 75% beat analysts' expectations on their turnover," says Christian Parisot at Aurel BGC. Only 62% of companies in the S & P Announce generally better than expected results payday loans.

In terms of forecasts, the discourse remains cautious.For the second quarter, 38 companies have lowered their projections of results and only 23 have reported. For 2011, however, 59% of predictions are reported. Among the heavyweights of Wall Street, have yet to announce their results, Pfizer (Tuesday), Time Warner, Electronic Arts (Wednesday). And the same day, Kellogg, Kraft Foods and Sara before Lee (Thursday). Three publications expected with a touch of apprehension, the margins could suffer from rising prices of food commodities, as food industry giants had trouble in pass prices.

Union leaders had expected that the 1 May 2011 be a little raw. And they were right. Especially as the bargaining unit has somewhat disintegrated. "The character of this holiday is both less said, the day falls on a Sunday," observes Marcel Grignard, number two of the CFDT.In 2009 the protesters were much more likely because of the crisis that has hit hard the French economy, and in 2010 the fear of the pension reform, just before its unveiling, had been a factor in turnout.

A disappointment even stronger than the first parade of May 1, Marine Le Pen as president of the National Front (FN), has mobilized more than expected among 3200 people according to police and 20,000 according to the FN (2000 cons according to police and 8000 by FN last year).

"We do not have to be in the streets" to celebrate International Labour Day, said Sunday the first secretary of Lille Martine Aubry PS parades scattered about, saying that employees would demonstrate "in 2012 in vote. "

"May 1st, we are the popes of the earth"

In the regions, the mobilization was low.In Marseille, among 2000 people by 5000 according to police and organizers, marched through the streets between 1200 and 3500 people in Toulouse between 2200 and 3300 in Lyon, between 2200 and 3000 in Bordeaux between 1200 and 3000 in Strasbourg between 700 and 1000 in Lille and between 450 and 1000 in Rennes.

It was also shown to Pau (800 to 1200), in Angoulême (500), Besancon (500 to 1000), Brest (250 to 300), Nancy (700 people according to the unions) and as at Dunkirk, in Orléans and Caen.

Besides purchasing power – the secretary general of the CFDT, Francois Chereque, called on Europe 1 radio on Sunday increased the minimum wage beyond the 2% increase in rpincipe scheduled for July 1 – the themes that defended year are "support for the Arab peoples who rise to the dignity and freedom," and "equal rights" between French and foreign workers in response to "national preference" advocated by the National Front progression in the opinion polls.

Winks comedy peppered some processions. "May 1st, we are the popes of the earth", alluding to the beatification of John Paul II. But also slogans in opposition to the FN, as in Rennes' French workers, immigrants, same bosses, same battles. "

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